The Crusaders were the only team to coast into the Super Rugby semifinals at the weekend with the other three encounters all closely-fought affairs. The Waratahs looked gone at halftime in Sydney, before the "big three" burst into life.

The opening weekend of the Super Rugby playoffs presents three matches that appear to be extremely even contests, particularly those in Sydney and Wellington. Can the Waratahs and Hurricanes respond after last week?

There was plenty on the line in the final regular season round yet two Australian teams were unable to perform when it mattered most. The Brumbies did, however, exposing the Waratahs for exactly what they are.

As he prepares to play his final home game in a Chiefs jersey, former All Blacks back-rower Liam Messam shares his wishes for the future of Super Rugby, the growing role of the Television Match Official and the sensational Damian McKenzie.

Sunwolves winger Semesi Masirewa was given a red card for a lifting tackle on Bernard Foley. It was the correct decision to the letter of the law, but could it have been better served by a report system? Your Round 18 Super Rugby talking points are here.

Super Rugby returned from a month-long hiatus only for the negative themes from the June Test series to immediately surface in the provincial competition. Thankfully 24 hours later, the Chiefs helped remind us just how good the game can be.

The Rebels may have ended Australia's 32-game winless streak in New Zealand, but it was the Waratahs, Reds derby that produced the highlights, meanwhile two All Blacks players have been left red-faced for off-field hijinks.

The Waratahs were hoping to add the Chiefs to their list of victims after ending the trans-Tasman streak in Sydney last week. And they would have, too, had it not been for the game's premier lock: Brodie Retallick.

Australian celebrations after finally beating a Kiwi Super Rugby opponent have been shut down after just one week, with the NSW Waratahs falling short 39-27 against the Chiefs in an epic encounter in Hamilton.

After 40 games, Australia finally saw the end of their New Zealand hoodoo with the Waratahs putting on a slick display to thump the Highlanders, while the deliberate knockdown debate continues to rage.

NSW Waratahs had every right to feel aggrieved over some of the decisions that were, and were not, made in Christchurch. The cold hard fact is, however, that a 29-0 lead should, no matter the opposition, be enough to go on and claim victory.

Injuries and form mean All Blacks coach Steve Hansen could potentially blood some new faces against France next month. But who from the Crusaders, Chiefs, Blues, Highlanders and Hurricanes deserves a maiden Test cap?

Australia's losing streak to their New Zealand counterparts has hit a new low, with Australia's best falling to New Zealand's worse, while the Jaguares and the Sharks found a way to get the win over two New Zealand teams.